The Latest: Witness in Cuomo ex-aide trial to testify Monday

The Latest: Witness in Cuomo ex-aide trial to testify Monday

Feb. 09, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the arrest of the government's star witness in the bribery trial of a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (all times local):

5:35 p.m.

Prosecutors say their main witness in the bribery trial of a former top aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH'-moh) is expected to resume testifying Monday after his arrest for violating his cooperation deal.

Consultant Todd Howe was arrested Thursday for violating his bail conditions and briefly appeared in Manhattan federal court Friday.

Howe has testified his friend Joseph Percoco accepted $300,000 in bribes to help three businessmen with state business. On cross-examination Thursday, Howe admitted failing to tell prosecutors he tried to cheat a hotel out of $600 after signing his plea deal.

Percoco has said he accepted no bribes and acted legally.

Percoco directed Cuomo's 2014 re-election campaign. The Democratic governor is not accused of wrongdoing and has said he'll be sad if the allegations against Percoco are true.

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3:15 p.m.

The government's prize witness in the trial of a longtime top aide to Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to remain imprisoned.

Todd Howe appeared in Manhattan federal court Friday after his arrest a day earlier for allegedly violating his bail conditions.

His arrest came hours after he testified that he violated the terms of his cooperation agreement when he lied to a credit card company to try to get it to remove a $600 fee for a night he spent at a luxury Manhattan hotel.

His arrest was an unusual development because he is still testifying in the trial of former Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco and three businessmen.

Percoco's lawyer says Percoco did not take bribes and that Howe tells too many lies to be believed.

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12:25 p.m.

The government's star witness in the bribery trial of a former top aide to Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been arrested.

The arrest of Todd Howe came after he admitted Thursday during testimony that he violated the terms of his plea deal in the case against former Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco and others.

A judge signed an order Thursday, saying the government notified him that the revocation of Howe's bail was appropriate at this time.

Howe testified since Monday, supporting the government's claims Percoco accepted over $300,000 in bribes from three businessmen in exchange for helping them with the state.

On Thursday, Howe admitted he breached his plea deal by trying to get a hotel room charge taken off his credit card bill.